Electric snap switch of the push button type



May 23, 1933. R. A. MILLERMASTER 1,910,030

ELECTRIC SNAP SWITCH OF THE PUSH BUTTON TYPE Filed Jan. 9, 1931 PatentedMay 23, 1933 "UNITED STATES PATENT:

mrirn a. mLLmmAsrER, or MILWAUKEE, isconsin, ASSIGNOR T curren- HAMMER;me, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A conrroanrron or DELAWARE 1 momma snnr'SWITCH or THE rusn BUTTON TYrE Application filed. January 9,1931. SerialNo. 507,571

This invention relates to improvements in electric snap switches of thepush button type. An object of the invention is to provide a rubbermounted snap switch of the push button type.

Another object is to utilize a switch frame and certain other switchparts which may be standardwith'respect to a snap switch of the v ytoggle lwpe, but wherein the base of the switch frameis modified in asimple manner for cooperation with the push button elements of theswitch [Another obj'ectis to provide a novel form s of rubber mountingblocks for snap switches of the push button type.

1 'Another object is to provide novel means ibr pivotally mounting therock lever with respect to. the switch frame.

. Otherobjects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.The accompanying drawing illustrates cer tain embodiments of theinvention which will now be described, it being understood that theembodiments illustrated are susceptible o-f modification in certaindetailsv of con struction thereof without departing from the scope ofthe appended claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a top plan vlew of an open-type single polepush button snap switch constructed in accordance with my 1nvention, thesupporting crossbar and the thin insulating cover plate or sheet beingomitted for clarity of illustration.

.1 Pg. 2 is an enlarged vertical section on the broken line 2-2 of Fig.I, with the cross bar and cover plate in position.

Fig. 3 is a similar section on the line 33 o f Fig. '1. p p p Fig. 4 isa perspective view of an arrangement of contact and terminal members tobe used in a snap switch of the three-point type.

Fig; 5 is a top plan View of a cup-shaped molded insulating base towhich the stationmay be secured. v

(i is a top planviewpf the supporting cross bar and the thin insulatingcover plate'for a single pole switch of the character illustrated inFigs. 1, 2' and 3.

'Fig. F is a fragmentary bottom plan View any contact and terminalmembers of Fig. 4

of the switch frame illustrating themanner of attaching the reducingplates. thereto. i, Fig. 8 is 'afragmentary View showing in verticalsection the manner of'formingv the on push button of a single pole ordouble pole switch, and

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the. bus bar or connection for av switchof the three-point I type. r v m Referring to-the drawing, thenumerallfi n designates the cup-shaped base for a. single pole pushbutton snap. switch adapted tor flush mo tinting, said base molded. inone piece from insulating material of suitable character. Baseifiisrecessed from-itsupper surface as shown atl6 and '17 to aceommodate the switch frame 18v and the. parts sup ported thereby, includingthe resilient orflexible bridging cont-actor elements l9. The switchframe 18 may be termed from a sheet 7 metal blank identical with thatdisclosed inv my Patent No.. 1,796,854, dated March 17, 1931. The fiatpunched; sheet metal carrier 20 of bail formmay likewise be identicalwith the single pole carrier illustrated in my 'patentaforementioned,and the contacimr elements 19 may be, attached thereto"but insu-. lated therefrom. in the 'manner disclosed insaid patent.

The bottomof the base 15 is provided with shoulders. forming dovetailrecesses 21 and; 22 within which thecorrespondingly shaped. rubberblocks or cushions: 223i and .2 are-'- adapted' to seat, the flatupper-ends of said blocks extending above said shoulders topros" 55 viderests for the opposite endportions 118 and 18 of the flat base of frame18.v y While it is. desirable from. the production viewpoint to employ..a switch frame 18 which is standard with respect to a toggle type snapswitch of the character disclosed in my aforementioned. patent, it ispreferred to employ somemeans for reducingthe. size of the openingsadjacent to the oppositeends of the frame base. Such means, asshown; Pmay comprise a pair of plates 25and 26 of. relatively thin sheet metal,the upwardly ofi'set portions 25 and 26 of which fit snug- 1y within thestandard size-openings inthei' having openings 25 and 26 the walls ofshanks 27 and .284, the bottom wallof base, 15"being provided withrelatively shallow de; A pressions or'recesse's 15 and 15 for a likepurpose.

ed intermediate projection 30 of which .engages the'indented upperfendofa notched cylindrical spring'enclo'sing member. 31, the springwhichengages an abutment on carrie 20:;being shown at 32 in Fig. 3.

-The'opposite end porti ns of plates 25 and 26 are adapted to underliethe respective end portions l'8 'and 18 of the frame base,and saidplates are rigidly and permanently secured to the frame base byupsetting the opposite end walls of the openingsinthe lattertopro'videintegral lugs-l8? and 18 which respectively underlie" thev upwardlyoffset portions 25 and 26 of said plates.

'The oppositely extending arms 33 and 3e of lever 29 ha've interlockingor cooperative engagement with the push button members 27 and 28 byextending through suitable openings 27 and 28 'providedin the latter(see Figs. 3an'd 8).

-' Lever29 IS pIOVIClBd at its upper end with a projection 35whicliisadapted to penetrate a corre's'pondingly shaped opening in a flatpunched sheet metalpivot member 36, said projection 35 being upset orriveted over member'36 to rigidly secure 'said parts to each other.Member 36 is provided atop posite ends'thereof with pivot'projections 36and 36 and member '36 with lever 29 attached thereto is preferablyassembled with respect toframe 18 by forcibly inserting said member 36between and spreading the upstanding ,parallel arms of the frame so thatthe'pivot projections 36 and 36 will enter the alined pivot openingsprovided in said frame -arms.

with respect to base 15.

*The' opposite ends of the frame base are provided withlugs 18 and 18which cooperate with suitable' vertical notches or recesses 15?; and 15to'assist in positioning the frame thebase, as by means of screws38 and39.

Said bar'is provided with lugs 40 and to provide foratt'achment thereofto an outlet box or similar support, and said bar may be provided withplaster engaging portions, 42

and l3 known'form. I i

p ing fi d- 7 t ecei e he r d ed and shouldered upper ends of theparallel arms of the switch frame. By this arrangement 11" x 4. .1; 5..i the switch frame is held atthe desired degree The lever or rock-bar 29of the switch consists of a flat sheet metal punching the round-- ofpressure against the soft rubber blocks 23 and 24,and'proper cooperationof the movable and stationary switch parts :is vinsured."

While. the switch .aforedescribed .is of the open type I prefer toprovide means for substantially closing the upper surface: thereof and45 and to partially. surround the reduced upper end portions of theframe arm sf a'l hus when bar 37is secured 'in position platefiS isclamped between. the Iatte r and base 15 at opposite endsvo'f the sheetand.betw een said bar'and the ishoulderslformed on the 1 frame arms atthe intermediate portion of saidsheet. Clamping-of the intermediateportions of sheet 48-between bar. 37 and the shoulders formed onswarms-10f the switch frame is a particularlyadvantageous feature 1n arubber mounted. swltch mechan smof the character herein disclosed, sincethereby metal to metal contact between the cross bar and the switchframe isminimized with consequent reduction in the degreeof soundornoise incident to operation of the switch; As shown'in Fig. 8 theinsulatingportion; 28 of push button elementf28 is preferablyv providedwith means toindicate that depression'of such member will result inclosing of the circuit controlled by the switch. Said means may comprisea pearl disk 28 .or-a disk of other light colored material which ismolded in oradherent to a recess formed in said insulating portion. Pushbutton "ele-n ments 27 and, 28 'arepreferablyfproviderh with'shoulder's-127 and 28 to limit downward movement frame base. A

The one-piece eoinbind statidfi i-yebntaet and terminal members 52 and53 are-prefera thereof ,with respect to the.

bly identical with the correspondingelements disclosed in m I patent,afo'ren ientioned,the

terminal portions. of said membershaving; ai h e alrj 't ea easternwhich. fi

snugly against suitable vertical shoulders 15 j and 15 formed on base 15whereby said members may each be fixed in position upon base 15 by meansof a single securing screw 52*, 53.

The stationary contact and terminal members 54 and 55 illustrated inFig. 4 may be formed from a blank identical with that employed forformation of the member 53 in Fig. 1, the contact portions of members 54and 55, however, being bent in a reverse direction, as compared with thecontact portion of member 53. Members 56 and 57 in Fig. 4 are identicalin form. Thus by employing a carrier having bridging contactorsangularly alined at the respective ends thereof (the same as in adouble-pole switch of the character described in my patentaforementioned) it follows that in one position of the switch parts thecontacts of members 55 and 56 will be bridged, and in the other positionthereof the contacts of members 54 and 57 will be bridged.

To provide a common terminal connection for members 54 and 56 I employ abus or conductor consisting of a substantially U- shaped punching thearms 58 and 59 of which are adapted to underlie the terminal portions ofmembers 54 and 56 to be clamped in position by the securing screws (notshown) of the latter. The connecting portion 60 of said punching is bentdownwardly at right angles to the arms 58 and 59 whereby the former ispositioned closely adjacent to one of the end walls 61 of the recess 62in base 63, suitable ledges 64 and 65 being provided to prevent anypossibility of the switch frame coming in contact with portion 60 whenthe bus member is attached to either end of base 63.

Base 63 is otherwise generally similar to the base 15 of Fig. 1, exceptthat the former is recessed, as at 66 and 67, on opposite sides ofrecess 62 to accommodate the double contactors of the switch and theopposite pairs of stationary contact and terminal members shown in Fig.4. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the base 63 isadapted to be used for formation of a switch of the double pole type, bymerely selecting the proper stationary contact and terminal members. Forinstance, by substituting for member 55 a member similar to member 57but having the contact portion thereof bent in the reverse direction,and by substituting for member 56 a member similar to member 54 buthaving the contact portion thereof bent in the reverse direction, thecontact arrangement for a double pole switch will be provided, it beingnecessary of course to omit the bus connection 58, 59, 60 and to providea binding screw or other type of wiring element for member 54. Therecesses 63*, 63 correspond in function to the recesses 15 15 of Fig. 3.

A punched sheet of insulation (not shown) Will likewise be employed in'conj unction with a switch of the characterillustrated in Figs. ,4and5, such insulation sheet being similar to the sheet -48 (F ig. 6) buthaving a relatively gwidewing on each, sidethereof to correspond withthe relatively-greater width of base 63.

What I claim as new and ,desire to secure by Letters l atent is:

1. In an electric snap switch, in combination, a punched sheetmetalframe of substantially u -shape in cross section, the upstandingarmsof; said frame having alined pivot openings, a Zflat punched sheetmetal member interposed'between said arms and having projecting endportions pivotally engaging the walls of saidopenings, said sheet metal.member having an opening, a second flat punched-sheet metal memberhaving a projection penetrating said opening,v said projection being.upset to rigidly secure said members toeach other, said second mentioned,member having integral oppositely extending arms, and push buttonelements each comprising a fiat punched sheet metal member having anopening whereby the same is adapted for interlocking --engagement with.one of said last mentioned arms, said push buttonelements having shankportions and saidframe having openings to receive and guide said shankportions.

2. In an electric snapswitch, in combina-. tion, a punched sheetmetalframe of substantially U- shape in cross section, the upstandingarms ofsaid frame having alined pivot openings, a flat punchedsheet metalmember interposed between said arms and having projecting end portionspivotally engaging the walls of said openings, said sheet metal memberhaving an opening, a second flat punched sheet metal member having aprojection penetrating said opening, said projection being upset torigidly secure said members to each other, said second mentioned memberhaving integral oppositely extending arms, push button elements eachcomprising a flat punched sheet metalmember having an opening wherebythe same is adapted for interlocking engagement with one of said lastmentioned arms,

said frame having openings to receive and guide said shank portions, anda pair of soft rubber blocks upon which said frame is adapted to rest,each of said rubber blocks having an opening to provide clearance forsaid shank portions of the respective push button elements.

3. In a push button snap switch, in combination, a punched sheet metalframe comprising a base portion having parallel upstandlng arms formedintegrally therewith, said arms having pivot openings formed therein, aflat punched sheetmetal member having pivot projections formed onopposite ends thereof, said arms being sufficiently resaid push buttonelements having shank portions and silientto permit forcible insertionof said projections within said pivot openings whereby said parts areretained in assembled relation, and a switch actuating-lever rigidlysecured to said pivot member and depending from the same for oscillationin a plane substantially parallel-to the arms of said frame, said leverhaving oppositely ex- I I tending arms located within said plane.

19 4. In an electric snap switch, in combination, a cup-shaped moldedinsulating base, a pair of soft rubber blocks seated upon the bottomwall of said base, a sheet metal switch frame having a fiat base portionseatedupon said rubber blocks and having parallel arms the shoulderedend portions I of which extend upwardly beyond said base, a sheet metalsupporting bar extending I II across the open face of said base andrigidly secured to the latter, said bar having openings to accommodatethe end portions of said arms, a flat punched sheet of fibrousinsulating material adapted to overlie the open face of said base, saidsheet'having end portions thereof clamped between said bar and the uppersurface of said base, and said sheet also having intermediate portionsthereof clamped between said bar and the shouldered end portions of saidframe arms, whereby the metal to metal contact of said bar with saidswitch frame is minimized, for the purpose set forth. I I In witnesswhereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

RALPH A. MILLERMASTERJ

